Payday shudder. Yes, that last paycheck was lighter. We had read about it and should have been prepared. The temporary payroll tax cuts made during the Bush era expired, and taxes went back to previous levels. Maybe it wasn’t falling off the so-called fiscal cliff, but a little less money to spend just after Christmas is not pleasant.
An opportunity. A slew of broken limbs and treetops were strewn around our area. If you are a fisherman, here is a chance to do something. Gather some of the brush, tie a concrete block on it with a rope and sink it well below the surface in a fishing spot. Chances are good that fish will be using it before you get back to the dock or boat ramp.
For the future. That eight miles or so of construction on Interstate, Conway to near Mayflower, is already tiresome to us, and it is a long way from completion. But the improvement when it is finished is evident — if you flick your eyes off those scary concrete barriers for just a moment. It will be good when it is finished.
Unique player. If basketball interests you at all, take in a Sugar Bear home game at the University of Central Arkansas sometime soon. You may want to make it a habit. The attraction is Megan Herbert, the veteran with the Sugar Bears who has more than 2,000 points and more than 1,000 rebounds in her career, something equaled only by Baylor’s Brittney Griner.
Preview opportunity. If your sports interests include an oink, you may want to plan a trip to Fayetteville Saturday, April 20. That’s the date of the Razorbacks’ Red-White game. Along with the public coaching debut of Bret Bielema, there likely will be four quarterback hopefuls in competition to succeed Tyler Wilson, two of them transfers from other major colleges.
Can we just get along? Hold your breath, please. We are. There are some strong indications that the current session of the Arkansas General Assembly may be productive. Republicans in the majority and Democrats could, hopefully, meet in the middle after some noise and posturing to pass meaningful legislation. Gov. Mike Beebe would likely join in the efforts.
“We have got to break the habit of negotiating a crisis over and over again.”
— President Barack Obama
in a Monday news conference.